Honchkrow Raid Counters
Best counters and strategies to beat Honchkrow in Pokemon GO raids.
How to Beat Honchkrow
Honchkrow is a 5 raid boss in Pokemon GO with Dark/Flying typing. The best counter is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (Shadow) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 71.100 DPS.
Honchkrow can be defeated by a minimum of 2 trainers using optimal counters at level 40+. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win, especially if your team isn't fully powered up.
Type strategy: Honchkrow is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock -type attacks. Avoid using Ground, Psychic, Dark-type moves as Honchkrow resists them. Focus your team on the highest DPS counters from the list below — even budget options without Shadow or Mega forms perform well in larger groups.
Top 3 counters: The strongest lineup against Honchkrow is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) (71.100 DPS), Regieleki (63.882 DPS), and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 DPS). Shadow variants deal 20% more damage but take 20% more — worth it for short-man attempts.
Catching Honchkrow: After defeating Honchkrow, the catch encounter will have a CP between 1508 and 1588 at level 20. With weather boost, the range is 1876-1975 at level 25. A perfect 100% IV Honchkrow from raids will have exactly 1588 CP — look for that number! Use Golden Razz Berries and Excellent curveball throws to maximize your catch rate.
Quick Stats
Weak To
Best Counters
Budget Counters (No Shadow / No Mega)
Catch CP
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best counters for Honchkrow?
The best counter for Honchkrow is Shadow Thundurus (Therian) with Volt Switch and Wildbolt Storm, dealing 71.100 DPS. Other top options include Regieleki (63.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 DPS).
How many trainers to beat Honchkrow?
Honchkrow can be defeated by a minimum of 2 high-level trainers with optimal counters. We recommend 4+ trainers for a comfortable win. In public lobbies, 5-6 is a safe number.
What is Honchkrow weak to?
Honchkrow is weak to Electric, Fairy, Ice, Rock-type attacks. It resists Ground, Psychic, Dark, Ghost, Grass-type moves, so avoid those.
Can Honchkrow be shiny in Pokemon GO?
No, Honchkrow's shiny form is not currently available in Pokemon GO. It may be released in a future event.
What CP is a 100% IV Honchkrow from raids?
A 100% IV (15/15/15) Honchkrow from raids will have 1588 CP at level 20, or 1975 CP at level 25 with weather boost. The minimum CP (10/10/10 IVs) is 1508. If you see 1588 CP in the catch screen, it's a perfect — use a Golden Razz Berry!
Is Honchkrow worth raiding in Pokemon GO?
Honchkrow is a lower-tier raid boss that can be soloed or defeated easily with 1-2 trainers. It's useful for farming candy, earning XP, and potentially getting a high-IV specimen. Worth doing when convenient, but doesn't require spending Premium Passes.
What is the best moveset for Honchkrow?
For the best moveset for Honchkrow itself (when using it as an attacker), check the full Honchkrow stats page which includes optimal fast and charged move combinations for both PvE raids and PvP GO Battle League, along with DPS calculations and PvP rankings.
Can I beat Honchkrow without Shadow or Mega Pokemon?
Yes! While Shadow and Mega Pokemon are the top DPS options, Honchkrow can be defeated using regular (non-Shadow, non-Mega) counters. The best budget options are Regieleki (63.882 DPS) and Thundurus (Therian) (59.300 DPS). You may need 5-6 trainers instead of the minimum 2 when using budget teams. Check the Budget Counters section above for the full F2P-friendly list.
What weather boosts Honchkrow in raids?
Weather boost information for Honchkrow is not currently available. Dark-type Pokemon are typically boosted in specific weather conditions. When weather boosted, the raid is harder but the catch encounter is level 25 with higher CP.